Comments on: NASA Budget for 2012 http://blog.nss.org/?p=2419 Blogging for the creation of a spacefaring civilization Sun, 19 May 2013 17:45:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Rich Thorne http://blog.nss.org/?p=2419&cpage=1#comment-11107 Rich Thorne Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:42:39 +0000 http://blog.nss.org/?p=2419#comment-11107 I would urge the society to push for the reauthorization of the Constellation program and the extension of the Shuttle program. It is crazy to drop out of the space transportation business for any length of time. I see all kinds of disastrous possible outcomes as a result of this change in strategy which is occurring as we get ready to retire shuttle fleet. The NSS should push hard to reauthorize the Constellation program while there is still the possibility that the new congress may reverse the decision of scrapping the Constellation program. The text below is my rational on this subject recently sent to Senator Bill Nelson. Loss of US Space Leadership and Manned Space Flight Continuity I am extremely concerned about the scrapping of the Constellation / Orion Program. I feel the scrapping of these programs after years of development is a huge mistake and will damage the United States with regard to Space leadership and program continuity. This highly flexible system was perfect for our space goals during the next decade. This change in direction could interrupt continuity and severely damage our space program. There should be no lapse in our ability to provide transportation to the space station. The United States should not rely on the private sector for these services until we know they are ready. Changing space flight systems at the very year you are retiring your old fleet could prove disastrous. If something unforeseen should happen to the Russian Economy or if they were to change their direction, we may find ourselves unable to get to the space station at all. I urge you to call for emergency meetings with the new congress and work to save our manned space program. I firmly believe that uninterrupted man space flight is necessary for preserving our Space Leadership. I also firmly believe the disruption of manned space flight will have far reaching negative consequences affecting the Space Industry, the Military, national technological advancement and the emergence of the private sector space industry. When looking at something so critical to our future, money saved today could cost us dearly for many years to come. I would urge the society to push for the reauthorization of the Constellation program and the extension of the Shuttle program. It is crazy to drop out of the space transportation business for any length of time. I see all kinds of disastrous possible outcomes as a result of this change in strategy which is occurring as we get ready to retire shuttle fleet. The NSS should push hard to reauthorize the Constellation program while there is still the possibility that the new congress may reverse the decision of scrapping the Constellation program.

The text below is my rational on this subject recently sent to Senator Bill Nelson.

Loss of US Space Leadership and Manned Space Flight Continuity

I am extremely concerned about the scrapping of the Constellation / Orion Program. I feel the scrapping of these programs after years of development is a huge mistake and will damage the United States with regard to Space leadership and program continuity. This highly flexible system was perfect for our space goals during the next decade. This change in direction could interrupt continuity and severely damage our space program. There should be no lapse in our ability to provide transportation to the space station. The United States should not rely on the private sector for these services until we know they are ready. Changing space flight systems at the very year you are retiring your old fleet could prove disastrous. If something unforeseen should happen to the Russian Economy or if they were to change their direction, we may find ourselves unable to get to the space station at all. I urge you to call for emergency meetings with the new congress and work to save our manned space program. I firmly believe that uninterrupted man space flight is necessary for preserving our Space Leadership. I also firmly believe the disruption of manned space flight will have far reaching negative consequences affecting the Space Industry, the Military, national technological advancement and the emergence of the private sector space industry. When looking at something so critical to our future, money saved today could cost us dearly for many years to come.

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